Obituary - Howard Eugene 'Gene' Stinson

Howard Eugene "Gene" Stinson, 73, passed away due to natural causes at his residence Saturday, November 9, 2019.

Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 18, 2019, at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. Burial will be held at a later date.

Gene's family has suggested memorial donations be made in his name to First Lutheran Church or the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Gene's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .

Gene was born February 1, 1946, in Clarksburg, Missouri, to John and Lola (Purnell) Stinson. He was raised there and graduated from Tipton High School in 1964. Upon graduation, Gene entered the U.S. Air Force, and served at Fairchild AFB Spokane, WA, where he met Sharon Johnson. After his honorable discharge in 1968, they moved to Havre.

June 24, 1968, they were married at First Lutheran Church, and the couple remained in Havre where they raised their two sons. Gene attended Northern Montana College for a few years after beginning his career as a Havre police officer, a position he began in 1971 and retired from in 1992. During that time, Gene also farmed on his wife's family farm north of Havre. Never one to laze around, after retirement from the police force, Gene began working as an equipment operator for Unified Disposal, and retired from there in 2014. He also held many part-time jobs over the years.

Gene enjoyed camping and fishing, but his favorite pastime was playing cribbage with friends and family. He also loved spending time with all his coffee buddies. Gene was a member of First Lutheran Church, where he served on the property committee, and the Boy Scouts of America Troop #1438, where he was an assistant scoutmaster for years since his sons were Boy Scouts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lola Stinson; brothers Richard and Bob Stinson; sisters Ruth Ann Barbour and Naomi Schmidt; and parents-in-law, Milton and Georgia Johnson.

Gene is survived by his wife, Sharon Stinson of Havre; sons, Curtis (Christine) Stinson of Helena and Chad (Tracy) Stinson of Havre; grandchildren, Brandon, Danielle, Taylor, and Trevor Stinson; sisters Frances Raper of Versailles, MO, Marcella Tyler of Clarksburg, MO, and Helen Ziesman of California, MO; brother David Stinson of Clarksburg, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews.